Michigan Education Trust staging $30,000 December giveaway

State’s 529 prepaid college tuition plan will provide $50 match, $50 gift card to fund classroom projects to first 300 contract purchasers

Michigan Education Trust enrollment period closes Sept. 30

State’s prepaid tuition plan will reopen for contract purchases in December; enrollment fee waived in recognition of College Savings Month

5 Ways Families Can Avoid Overspending This Summer — And Beyond

Summer spending doesn't have to break the bank! Here are a few ways to cut back while still having some big fun all year.

Meet a Mermaid at SEA LIFE Michigan Aquarium's Newest Exhibit

Come face to fin with the magical world of mermaids at the limited time event August 15 to September 1

Peppa Pig World of Play Indoor Attraction Open in Auburn Hills

Get Ready For Snorts, Giggles And Jumping Up And Down

Helpful Pregnancy Advice That Moms-To-Be Should Embrace

If you're pregnant, don't stress— a new book explains just what to do while making your baby, from healthy diets to the checklist you need.

Tidying Up: How To Declutter Our Lives As Parents

It's common to feel suffocated by all of our material objects. Luckily, there are some ways to simplify our lives as parents and people.

7 Expert Tips On Managing Your Picky Little Eaters

Every parent wants to crack the code on their picky eaters — without having to force-feed them. Here are some techniques that will help.

Traveling With A Toddler: Pro Tips And Avoidable Fails

Planning a getaway with a toddler? It might not be as sunny as you hoped, if you're not prepared. Here are some tips to remember!

PEPPA PIG WORLD OF PLAY Joins Lineup at Great Lakes Crossing

Unique Indoor Family Attraction will bring the Popular Children’s TV Show to Life when it opens in 2019

7 Signs You Might Be Over-Parenting

A recent book suggests that over-parenting your child could be doing more harm than good — but how do you know when you're guilty of it?

What Is A Lawnmower Parent — And Are You One?

You've heard of the helicopter parent, but there’s a new term sweeping the playgrounds. Are you guilty of it?

6 Ways To Balance Parenthood And A Successful Career

With a little creative thinking, courage, and planning, you can find a modern-day workflow that actually works for you and your family.

'Barney the Farm Dog' Connects Kids to Agriculture

The book, written by Mary Lynn Swiderski and her late husband, Vic, who had MS, supports Michigan Multiple Sclerosis Society.

8 Local Cider Mills Offer a Taste of Fall: Family Bucket List

Visiting a cider mill is a time honored tradition in Michigan. Here are eight that offer family-fun activities.

Sunday's 'Somewhere in Time' Takes Visitors Way Back

Games, cars, riverboat rides and other activities take guests back to the 1920s in Wayne County Parks, Trenton Parks and Recreation event.

Grammy Winner Miguel Gives Private Concert for Woman Turning Life Around

Concert in Farmington Hills was part of the Make Room movement raising awareness of 11 million families a paycheck away from homelessness.

See Sharks in Michigan Before Kids Head Back to School

If you’re looking for a fun outing with children before school starts on Sept. 8, take them to see new baby sharks.

Metro Detroit Has Some of the Best Mac-and-Cheese in America: Thrillist

Mac-and-cheese has come a long way since Thomas Jefferson served it at a state dinner in 1802.

11 Things to Check Off the Family Bucket List Before School Starts

Kids head back to school after Labor Day. There’s still time to squeeze in family fun with events, many of them free, around the metro.

No Plans? 5 Awesome Michigan Road Trips

Fudge, Corvettes, blueberries, ice cream and all things Danish are celebrated at weekend festivals.

8 Fun - and Free - Things for Families to Do Before School Starts

8 Fun - and Free - Things for Families to Do Before School Starts

Michigan's Top 22 Breakfast Spots and What to Eat

These aren’t chain restaurant menus. Across Michigan, you’ll find unique AM-eats, some close to home and others road-trip worthy.

Dirty, Filthy Fun Coming Up in Wayne County

For any kid who ever jumped in a mud puddle – or wanted to, but was stopped by a laundry-conscious parent – this event is for you.

Detroit Rallies for Homeless Woman Fighting Cancer

A Detroit charity that turns abandoned houses into livable homes helped woman clear one hurdle, but steep climbs remain for single mom of 3.

Metro Detroit 'Owns' List of Best Suburbs to Raise Family

Oakland, Wayne and Washtenaw counties figured prominently in the top 25 suburbs for families in Michigan.

Rejected by Mother, Rare Fawn Gets A Second Chance

Kids touring a Michigan working farm can learn several lessons, including one about acceptance.

Summer of the Wild Child at Detroit Zoo

Detroit Zoo’s Summer Safari camps start June 22. Be sure to sign up early before the camps fill up.

In Wayne County, Olympic Flame Burns Early

Children ages 5 and younger will be put to the test in the customized Nursery School Olympics.

Who Are Michigan's Heroes? Test Your Or (Better) Your Kids' Knowledge

A list on a popular website has all the information you need to make a fun summer enrichment activity out of Michigan history.

Inkster Mom Tries Publicly Shaming Kids Straight

Mom who sends kids to the roadside with signs confessing misdeeds says humiliating them now is better than bailing them out of jail later.

Where In Michigan Are You Most Likely to Marry By Age 26?

Harvard economist say data analysis reveals a causal relationship between where you live and important life events.

Michigan Couple With 12 Sons Parents Again, And It's A ...

Jay and Kateri Schwandt love being parents. He was hoping their 13th child would be a girl, she wanted another boy. Whose wish came true?

Top 29 Summer Festivals in Michigan - But What's Missing?

If you’re putting together your family’s summer calendar– and face it, after a long winter, you’ve earned some fun – here’s a good start.

How You and Your Family Can Help Rhinoceros in 'De-Spare'

“Bowling for Rhinos” has raised more than $200,000 in metro Detroit since 1990. You can add to the total at upcoming family-friendly event.

30 Hot Days, 30 Lost Children: Season For Car Deaths Arrives

More commonly than many realize, children are left in hot cars to fend for themselves, and the outcomes are tragic.

A Weekend Outing with the Kiddos Could Cost You Almost Nothing

Admission to more than a half dozen museums and cultural attractions is free to Bank of America and Merrill Lynch cardholders.

Having the Talk About Car Keys with Elderly Parents

What would you do if your 91-year-old parent mistakenly drove 115 miles, and then refused to relinquish the car keys or give up driving?

50 Sexting/Texting Terms and 7 Snapchat Tips Every Parent Should Know

Do you think Snapchat photos evaporate within seconds of delivery? Guess again – and that’s just one thing parents should be worried about.

Half of Teens Admit to Cyber Bullying, Other Abusive Social Media Behavior

Wayne State University study shows students in wealthy districts were most likely to engage in abusive and hurtful social media behavior.

Is Detroit Zoo's Arctic Ring of Life Best Exhibit in the Country?

Twenty zoos are in the running for national newspaper’s “Best Zoo Exhibit” title. Here’s how to vote for your favorite.

Find Cheap Gas, Then Map the Ultimate Michigan Road Trip

The free-fall at the gas pump is giving motorists the lowest summertime gas prices in six years. Where will the open road take you?

Where Does Your Town Rank Among Best Cities for Young Families in Michigan?

NerdWallet crunched U.S. Census data to assess four key factors that make cities attractive to young families with children.

Puppies! Patch Readers Share Joy and, In the Case of Melfie, Heartbreak

We’re celebrating National Puppy Day all week long. Please tell us what your dog means to us in the comments.

As Monopoly Turns 80, Guess Who Just Landed on a Red Square

Fans of the world’s most popular board game voted on cities to be included in the new Monopoly Here & Now games.

What Half of Parents Are Doing That May Embarrass Their Kids

A new poll by the University of Michigan casts light on “oversharenting.”

'Hey, Kids (And Detroit Institute of Art Patrons)! Do You Know What Time It Is?'

“It’s Howdy Doody time,” of course. The iconic marionette from the long running 1950s kids’ TV program stars once again.

Why Frogs Count, and Why Michigan DNR Counts Them

Annual survey offers a chance for families to enjoy nature. Also, did you know a frog’s tongue isn’t attached to the back of its mouth?